NCLEX Prep Compared: What You Get Free and What You Pay For
Prices, question counts, and practice exams for the most-used NCLEX-RN prep programs, as listed on their websites on October 29, 2026. Most students don't need all of them. Here's how they fit together.
At a glance
| Program | Price | Questions | Adaptive (CAT) exam | Also includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEXSim | Free | 1,059 | Yes, unlimited | Proctored test-day mode with an integrity report, at-home NCLEX preview, NGN case studies, ACLS megacodes, bedside simulation |
| UWorld | $139 for 30 days to $449 for 730 days | 2,600 to 3,100+ | Yes | Self-assessments (1 to 6 by plan); 7-day free trial with 50 questions |
| Archer Review | From $79 for 1 month; $159 to $209 with a pass guarantee | 3,100+ | Yes, with 30+ readiness assessments | Pass prediction; live reviews on higher plans; guarantee has conditions |
| Kaplan | CAT + Qbank from $99; self-paced course $280 to $349 | 3,800+ (course) | 3 full-length (course) | Videos, ebook, flashcards; money-back guarantee with conditions |
| SimpleNursing | About $50 per month, or $126 for 90 days | 4,500+ | On the monthly and guarantee plans | 1,200+ animated videos; 6 readiness assessments; pass-guarantee plan |
Taken from each company's own website on October 29, 2026. Sale prices and plans change often; confirm on the company's site before you buy. UWorld, Archer Review, Kaplan, and SimpleNursing are trademarks of their owners. NCLEXSim isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
What NCLEXSim does well
- Free full exams. Take the adaptive exam as often as you like. It runs 85 to 150 items and stops by the same rules as the NCLEX.
- Test-day conditions. A locked screen, webcam checks, a clock that keeps running on breaks, and an integrity report. We haven't found another prep program that rehearses the testing conditions, not just the content.
- Clinical simulation. ACLS megacodes and bedside patients who change in real time.
Where paid programs give you more
- More questions. Paid banks have 2,600 to 4,500 questions. NCLEXSim has 1,059.
- Video lessons and content review. NCLEXSim tests you; it doesn't teach full content lectures.
- Track record and guarantees. Some programs offer pass guarantees with conditions. NCLEXSim is new and doesn't publish a pass rate yet.
A plan that works for most students
- Use one question bank for daily volume. If money is tight, NCLEXSim's free questions and topic drills are a good place to start.
- Take a full adaptive exam every week or two to track your readiness.
- In the last two weeks, take at least one full exam in test-day mode, on a running clock, the way you'll test.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to UWorld for the NCLEX?
Yes. NCLEXSim is free and includes a full adaptive (CAT) practice exam, NGN case studies, and a proctored test-day mode. It has fewer questions than UWorld, so many students use both: a paid question bank for volume and NCLEXSim for full exams and test-day rehearsal.
Do I need a paid NCLEX prep course to pass?
Not necessarily. What matters most is steady practice with rationales, full-length timed exams, and reviewing your weak categories. A paid course adds more questions, videos, and sometimes a pass guarantee. Free tools can cover the practice exam and test-day rehearsal.
Which NCLEX prep has a free adaptive (CAT) exam?
NCLEXSim's adaptive exam is free with an account. The paid programs compared here include CAT exams in their paid plans.
Are these prices current?
They were taken from each company's website on October 29, 2026. Prices and plans change often, so check the company's site before you buy.
Practice the way the NCLEX tests you
1,059 fact-checked questions, a full adaptive exam that stops by the real rules, a proctored test-day mode with an integrity report, 8 NGN case studies, bedside simulations, and ACLS megacodes. Free. Already paying for a question bank? Keep it, and rehearse test day here.